Given how cutting-edge guitar synthesizers
seem today, it’s hard to believe that
they have been around for more than three
decades. And, not surprisingly, they’ve
evolved significantly in that time. The
early-’70s models used by Pat Metheny and
Bill Frisell were not equipped with MIDI and
were only able to control certain dedicated
sound modules. Because there were no
MIDI-conversion latency issues, these guitar
synths were able to track very well. Once
audio-to-MIDI conversion became available,
guitars equipped with hexaphonic pickups
(that is, pickups that can send and receive
audio separately from each of the six
strings) could be used to control keyboard
synthesizers, synth modules, and even samplers.
Suddenly guitarists had the ability
to trigger everything from synth pads and
drum sounds to loops, string parts, and
piano sounds.

If this all sounds like a history lesson in a
foreign language, you’re on your way to
understanding why guitar synthesis has yet
to catch on in a big way. In the past, most
guitarists’ eyes would glaze over when talk
shifted to MIDI and synthesizers. And those
who were interested were often put off by
slow MIDI tracking, false note triggering,
and the inability of early audio-to-MIDI converters
to follow techniques like hammer-ons,
pull-offs, slurs, bends, and tapping.

The Sonuus G2M, a MIDI interface that’s
easy to use and eliminates the need for special
jacks and pickups, has the potential to
change all of that.

The Magic of MIDI
For those unfamiliar with the term, MIDI
(musical instrument digital interface) is a digital
message protocol designed to transmit
musical events—such as, say, a pitch bend—
to ones and zeros so that they can be
processed by a computer. Companies like
Roland and Terratec (Axon) have advanced
audio-to-MIDI conversion significantly and
addressed many early hurdles. But even the
best MIDI converter still requires accurate
playing at a level beyond some guitarists.
To get acceptable results, you must pick
every note cleanly and with exactly the right
pressure. If you hit adjacent strings or allow
notes to ring over each other, the MIDI module
creates glitches and unwanted sounds.
Sloppiness that’s perfectly acceptable—or
even desirable—in normal guitar playing is
verboten with a MIDI guitar.

This is one reason you are still unlikely to spy
a 13-pin MIDI connector plug coming out of a
guitarist’s hex-pickup instrument in a live performance
(precision players like Pat Metheny
and John McLaughlin aside). But the boom in
home recording means more and more players
are using an audio-to-MIDI converter in their
studios, where less-than-perfect technique is
not as much of an issue.

I have a Graph Tech Ghost hexaphonic
pickup system in one of my instruments and
have used Roland and Axon converters that
both perform admirably despite my own
technical limitations. Still, I often find myself
reluctant to deal with the complexity of this
technology. That learning curve, combined
with my infrequent synthesizer needs, usually
leads me to fall back on my meager
keyboard skills.

Mini MIDI
The Sonuus could lead many users back to
the synth guitar technology just by virtue of
how easy it is to use. The G2M’s solid plastic
case is smaller than an iPhone, though somewhat
thicker. And basic operation couldn’t be
simpler: Plug any electric guitar into one end
and a MIDI cable into the other, then jack
into your chosen MIDI device and go—no
hexaphonic pickup is required.

A green power light indicates the onboard
9-volt battery is supplying juice. The power
light also functions as a tuner, blinking more
slowly as you approach the correct note.
You’ll need to start with the string fairly close
to pitch, but tuning is very accurate. And it’s
a welcome addition given how essential correct
pitch is for accurate tracking.

A red LED lets you know when battery
power is getting low, and another red Clip
light tells you if the instrument signal is too
hot, which can also adversely affect accurate
tracking. A Boost switch next to the 1/4"
instrument input supplies extra power to
low-output pickups, and a 1/4" Thru output
sends your instrument’s audio signal wherever
you choose (for instance, to an amp or
mixer). The G2M also supplies 5-volt power
to MIDI devices that require it.

Michael Ross is a writer/musician/producer/bon vivant living in Nashville. He curates guitarmoderne.com, dedicated to avant-garde and experimental guitar, and contributes to Premier Guitar, Guitar Player, Electronic Musician, and Sound On Sound. He is the author of Getting Great Guitar Sounds and All About Effects.

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